John Russell (for friends Jack) lived in Devon County in the 19th century.
He was a preacher but religious calling didn't meant that he couldn't take part in
such entertainments like hunting, horse riding and active participation with
Kennel Club where he was a valued expert and judge of terriers. Being also a
dog-fancier he wanted to breed a tireless hunter. Those little four-footed animals,
which later on gained the unstained reputation among hunters for their limitless
stamina, were given Jack Russell's name in order to honor the memory of that
notorious preacher-hunter (or rather hunter-preacher).
Those vigorous and very intelligent miniature terriers, with smooth fur weren't
considered as pure-bred for quite a long time. They were acknowledged as such
in the last decade of the 20th century and according to the standards of that
particular race, the more mongrel-like look the dog possessed the more it was
valued. The first pure-bred were called Parson Jack Russell terrier but it was the
next breed of the race showed on dog exhibitions that was the true Jack Russell
terrier. Those two breeds differ from each other mainly in lenght of their limbs
and the type of fur. The typical Jack Russell is short limbed and has smooth fur
while Parson has limbs of normal lenght and its fur is usually rugged.
Today both breeds make an astounding career also (or shoulkd we rather say:
mainly) as a companion dogs. Their intelligence is far above average so before
anyone makes a decision about buying such dog, he or she better be sure what to
do when they realize that the dog they bought turned out to be more intelligent
than its owners.
(Małgorzata Caprari - "Przesadnik kynologiczny")